In California, owners of the Santa Anita Park have taken the decision to close the track and suspend all racing for an as yet
indefinite period after the death of 21 horses over ten weeks.
Clearly, this is not a good record, and blackbook.com.au takes up
the story for you.
The owners of the Los Angeles track has commissioned their own
study into the surface of the track, and this will be carried out by
Dennis Moore who is a former track superintendent. Such is the
severity of the situations that there will also be an investigation by
the California Horse Racing Board. Speaking to reporters, the Chief
Executive of the Stronach Group who own the venue explained:
&quot; The safety, health and welfare of the horses and jockeys is our top
priority. We feel confident in the track, and we’re just being very
proactive. We want to do all the testing that needs to be done, and
when we believe we’re in good shape, we’ll start to train over it
again.”
The statement from Tim Ritvo comes after the latest incident on
Tuesday which saw a four-year-old filly called Lets Light the Way
put to sleep after an injury to the front right leg. She was one of nine
deaths that occurred when the main dirt track was being used for
training. It was a similar incident that claimed the life of Battle of
Midway the 2017 Breeders Cup Winner.
When asked for their opinion ahead of the investigation, Rick Arthur
who is the equine medical director for the California Horse Racing
Board said “While the investigations needed to be carried out factor
like heavy rains, a depleted horse population and impatience on the
part of trainers and racetrack officials to get the most out of limited
stock” could not be overlooked. He went onto conclude that “Some
people haven’t been as cautious as they should have on both
sides,”
Track testing has been carried out after every death and nothing
seems to be obviously causing the problem. The track has been
repeatedly examined and data analysed, and nothing has been

revealed, which lead to the track being cleared for racing each time.
Mick Peterson who is a track safety expert with the University of
Kentucky found no potential irregularities that could explain why the
death toll had risen so dramatically. The course had not been open
long after his visit before the 20th fatality was recorded, with
Eskenforadrink having issues during the race and later being put
down. There is a lot of pressure on the track owners now, and the
decision has come right before the Santa Anita Handicap and the
San Felipe Stakes, neither of which will now be run.
Animal welfare groups including PETA are also watching the
investigations with president Ingrid Newkirk confirming her support
for the decision and stating that the group are keen to see a full
criminal investigation into the issue, but this is not yet on the cards
as far as we understand.

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Losing on a weekly basis or having a bad trot is not the exclusive domain of punters – in fact, their old foe the bookmaker has had his share of down times.

Over the past fifty years, bookmakers, like so many punters, have found the going too tough and that the economics of their profession denied them a living. We had one extraordinary situation in the mid-1970s after the last race at Seymour when an enterprising young bookmaker climbed the stairs to the broadcast box. While a commentator was going through the results of the day, the young man interrupted and said:

‘I’m a little bit short on my payout, you wouldn’t have some folding to get me through?’ It made unusual radio – the bookmaker hadn’t believed that the commentator was on air at the time.

But one bookmaker in the late 1970s devised a plan that basically evolved around a boom-or-bust theory.

He had endured a tough run during the autumn of that year and it seemed the spate of favourites was never going to end. As the markets went up for the final race at Caulfield – a three-year-old fillies event – the favourite was put at 4–6. The bookmaker immediately went to 4–5 and then he went to even money, and the crowd around him was four and five deep, wanting to back the favourite.

The word spread around the course that the bookmaker was offering good odds on the favourite, and the crowd around the stand grew. With just five minutes of betting to go, the bookie turned the horse into 1–3 and then gathered his staff around him for a conference.

‘Look, just pack up the sheets and the bags and we’ll get moving before the race,’ he told them. ‘It’s pretty simple – we’ve laid the favourite for a fortune. If it wins we’re stuffed, and if it gets beaten we’ve got the lot.’

So, the team made their way over to Caulfield station and, from platform four, nervously watched the outcome of the final event.

The bookie again told his staff that he’d deliberately taken on the favourite, believing she was vulnerable.

‘I’ve targeted this filly – I think she’s a bit of a squib but, just in case she does win, there’s an express train due to arrive from the city about five minutes after the race and we’d better be on it,’ he said.

As the field swung for home, the chestnut filly that the bookie had labelled as ‘heartless’ defied that reputation. At the 200-metre mark, she went from two to six lengths in front – much to the cheering of the punters in the ring.

A bookmaker who had been fielding next to him recalled the scenes that took place after the race.

‘It was the strangest thing I’ve seen on a racecourse – the queue on the bookie’s stand seemed to stretch for miles. At first, the mood was one of jubilation that they’d snared even money on a horse that should have been 5–1 on. But the giggling and laughing soon gave way to shouting and yelling when they realised that the bookmaker and his staff had disappeared. The bookmaker’s supervisor came up and they harassed him and it turned pretty nasty,’ he said.

Eventually, the bookmakers’ association repaid all of the bets; the bookmaker in question had left on an express train out of town, never to be seen again.

And just for the record, the three-year-old filly was the brilliant Mistress Anne, who went on to win the Oakleigh Plate two weeks later.

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06/05/19

FREE HONG KONG

HORSE RACING TIPS

AND

BEST BETS

HAPPY VALLEY

We’re thrilled the welcome aboard to www.weekendking.com.au the prodigious young form analyst and tipster, the locally born and bred Hong Kong wizard Nicklas Yip. Nicklas will be previewing every Hong Kong meeting from Happy Valley and Sha Tin each and every week.

NIKLAS YIP

The best Hong Kong horse racing tipster actually from Hong Kong……

Fan of Frankel, Michael Jordan and Phil “The Power” Taylor.

Follow Nicklas on Twitter by clicking HERE or follow him @Nicklasyip for all his tips from around the globe. Mark my word he’s a gun! But don’t take me on my word follow him and see for yourself why he’s got a cult following on social media!

Race 1

Another tricky class 5 race to kick off the meeting. The pacing is slow. Little Fantasy will be a danger if Silvestre De Sousa can tackle the wide gate. Sweet Bean still maintain his form during trackwork, a better gate can help. Dragon Warrior finally has drawn a better gate and pedigree supported the distance. Enjoyable Success is settling well with a better jockey on board. Distance is a concern for Money Winner.

Confidence: Low

E/W #10 Little Fantasy or E/W #5 Sweet Bean

Race 2

Very Rich Man will decide the winner of this race. He is classy in this race. If he sets up a quick tempo, Super Lucky will turn up to his best form. Lunar Zephyr has a massive run at Sha Tin and he has shown a lot better during trackwork for this race. Dollar Reward is likely a placegetter only. All Best Friends lost 27 pounds from its last race, not a good sign.

Confidence:Medium

E/W #4 Very Rich Man

Race 3

Pierro’s son Gift Of Lifeline steps up to 1200m with Silvestre De Sousa is hopeful to break the maiden. Jolly Bountiful improved in trackwork after a short break at Chonghua. Generous Heart must be a threat because of switching track from dirt to turf. Shinealot is still green, not easy to win.

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Race 4

Plenty of horses not proven over the same C&D. Another dart throwing race in this evening. Mr Darthvegar has a couple trials at Happy Valley with good performance, pedigree also supports that should be one to watch. Naboo Star made good progress in trackwork for this preparation. Tavistock’s Fortunate Runner steps up to mile finally which is a good move. Love Chunghwa and Diamond Legend both pedigrees are well supported.

Confidence:Low

E/W #8 MR Darthvegar OR E/W #3 Love Chunghwa

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Race 5

A fast tempo race is suitable for Zac Purton’s Har Har Heart. Top Laurels has returned to Happy Valley after two disappointing defeats at the dirt track, a wide gate won’t affect his chance. Imperial Gallantry is classy in class3, time to upset the fields. Amazing has just returned from injury, huge question mark on this ex Godolphin horse.

Confidence:High

Win #3 Har Har Heart

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Race 6

Sacred Ibis is classy in class3 with backmarker specialist Umberto Rispoli on board. Namjong Plus is a better horse when a foreign jockey ride on him. Helene Charisma is a overrated horse. Vigor Fame keeps progressing from every races. Pikachu time to shine in class 3.

Confidence:High

Win #1 Sacred Ibis OR #2 Namjong Plus

Race 7

Special Stars stayed in Hong Kong after a devastating loss the last start and he has shown terrific progress in trackwork. Waldorf should be a better horse at Happy Valley but the trial has shown he is in a slump. Gallant Return had a superb run under Joao Moreira the last start, decent chance. Coby Oppa still green in trackwork, switching to turf may not help. E Master has turned to a better horse after changing stable, surely can compete in class 3.

Confidence:High

Win #4 Special Stars

Race 8:

Chase me if you can! Plenty speedy horses in the last race of the meeting. Hard to separate between Country Star and Music Addition. Handsome Bobo has drawn gate 1 that is a huge plus. Super Turbo can make a huge run if those frontrunners failed to perform well.